IFJ Welcomes Action by Tunisian Association of Journalists to Support Media at World Summit

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The International Federation of Journalists today welcomed an announcement action by the Association of Tunisian Journalists pledging support for journalists and media visiting the country for the World Summit on the Information Society which opens next week.

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The AJT, which is a member of the IFJ, has called on the Tunisian authorities to ensure all journalists can freely report on the event. The Association issued a press statement this week calling on the Tunisian government to guarantee free access to the Internet for all journalists. The Association has also set up a “hotline” for journalists participating in the summit to provide advice and assistance.

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The Association believes the World Summit provides an opportunity to strengthen respect for press freedom and more access to information in a country that has come under fire from some free expression groups for its failure to respect basic rights.

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“The action by the Association of journalists sends a powerful signal that Tunisian journalists are lining up to support the global consensus that the information era is about free access to information, an end to censorship and support for media pluralism,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.&nbsp;

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The IFJ says that the voice of Tunisian journalists needs to be heard during the days of the Summit. “There is no doubt that Tunisia’s political style is out of step in a world that is rapidly changing,” said White. “It’s time for obstacles to press freedom to be lifted and for journalists to be able to work freely in decent working conditions and without any interference in their professional responsibilities.”

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The IFJ says that the AJT announcement also puts the spotlight on efforts to bring about government action to end a hunger strike organised by human rights groups against official violations of fundamental rights. Among the hunger strikers is Lotfi Haji, the President of a new Syndicate of Journalists, which has been stopped from organising its Congress in the run-up to the World Summit.

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“This Summit should take place in an atmosphere of respect for the rights of everyone, particularly colleagues in Tunisia,” said White. “The government should act quickly to demonstrate to the world that it is ready to grant basic rights of free expression and freedom of association to all citizens.”

For more information contact: +32 2 235 2206

The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries

KRAGUJEVAC, November 2, 2005 (Danas) - The mayor of Kragujevac Veroljub Stevanovic and representatives of the union of Radio Television Kragujevac (RTK) urged the state authorities at the press conference yesterday to defer the process of privatisation of this media outlet until the allocation of frequencies to the electronic media in Serbia.

"We demand the revision of the decision to initiate the process ofprivatisation of RTK, brought by the Government on October 21. The city is opposing to the privatisation of the station under these circumstances. The local government intends to reshape RTK into a regional media outlet before the frequency allocation tender, which should put its price up in the privatisation", Stevanovic said, adding that "some people would want to buy the regional media outlet at a very low price and misuse it as an instrument of their political party".

Presidents of the Independent Union and Nezavisnost Union of RTK, Jugoslav Barjaktarevic and Dejan Djusic, have backed up the mayor's standpoint. They pointed out that RTK had been loaded with problems, before all the ambiguous tenure and business relations with the cable network SBB, which still needs to be investigated.

Beside abrupt decision of the Serbian Government to initiate the process of privatisation of RTK, this media outlet is also in the focus of attention of the local public due to the anticipated dismissal of the current director Slavica Trifunovic. Mayor Stevanovic repeated yesterday that the Trifunovic's dismissal would be proposed at the next Assembly's session, scheduled for Friday, November 4.

The Liberals of Kragujevac "struck back" saying that if their renowned member, RTK director Slavica Trifunovic, and the head of the Sports Center Mladost Branislav Derovski, also a Liberal, were removed from their positions, the party would step out of the coalition majority the day after tomorrow.

Speaking for the daily Danas, leader of the Liberals of Kragujevac and also the president of the City Assembly, Dobrica Milovanovic, denied yesterday ever being so determined in the decision to stop participating in the activity of the local parliament's majority.

"Such decision could only be made by the Presidency of the Liberals of Kragujevac in its full constitution. On the other hand, we went to the polls together with the non-party individuals, as coalition "For Our City". We will see what happens after the session of the City Assembly on Friday", said Milovanovic, adding that he would state his opinion on dismissal of the RTK director and SC Mladost "when the time comes".

MEDIA FORUM

PRAGUE, November 4, 2005 (Beta) - A traditional Media-Forum, organized by MDLF, will start today in Prague, for the independence media representatives from twenty eight countries.

The two-day forum will cover many topics, such as newsroom financing, management and organisation, as well as several topical discussions on the main challenges of modern journalism.

Altapress representative Yuri Purgin, AMIN's Khalid Abu Akir and Mihail Kumok from "Melitopolska vedomosti" will elaborate on the issue is the ethics in journalism the way to lose readers, listeners, viewers and money.

Ljubica Markovic from the Beta News Agency, Yuri Fedotinov from Echo of Moscow Radio and Hose Ruben Zamora from El Periodico will discuss sources' reliability and use and misuse of sources, which is generally seen as a sore spot of journalism in many countries in transition.

The privatisation of media and influx of domestic and foreign capital will be discussed within the topical segment "To welcome investors or not?"Anticipated speakers on the topic are Zoran Borcic from "Novi List" and Veran Matic from RTV B92.

Dragan Janjic from the Beta News Agency and Sandra Savic from RTV B92 will talk about the new way to organize desk, influences on editorial policy and quality of reporting.

Since 1996, the Media Development Loan Fund has supported over 80 projects of more than 50 independent media from 17 countries of Middle and South EastEurope, Russia, Africa, Asia and Latin America with loans, technological modernization or trainings for managers. MDLF currently runs projects in 11 countries.

1.5 BILLION DINARS FOR RTS

BELGRADE, November 4, 2005 (FoNet) - The budget for 2006 envisages 1.5 billion dinars to be secured for Radio Television Serbia.

The budget envisages paying subsidies to three media outlets and the Broadcast Agency, totaling 1.71 billion dinars, out of which, according to the Government's special program, 1.5 billion dinars goes to the national television station.

The Broadcast Agency will thus get 100 million dinars, "Panorama" publishing company, relocated from Pristina, will secure 84 million, while "Bratstvo" publishing company from Nis will be entitled to 30 million dinars. Council of Serbia-Montenegro Ministers for Information Directorate will secure 211.1 million dinars, while the largest part of the funds, 183.5 million dinars, is envisaged for Tanjug, Radio Jugoslavija, "Filmske Novosti" and "Jugoslovenski Pregled".

These companies carry out informational activities that are in the general interest of the state union, and, under the Implementation of Constitutional Charter Act, they will continue to conduct their work by the time their status is defined by the declaration of Serbia and Montenegro.

Furthermore, Tanjug is envisaged to get additional 10 million dinars as a donation from the Serbian Culture Ministry.

TV SUBSCRIPTION MUST BE PAID

POZAREVAC, November 7, 2005 (Danas) - "The privatisation of the state-owned media, as the law stipulates, is essential for the further democratization of the society, from which the people working in those media would benefit the most. If there have been any public disagreements regarding the payment of the subscription for the national television, it is now legally regulated. The subscription will be paid together with the electricity bills. In the past period, the media took over the role unfitting for them, instead of informing the public objectively and responsibly", said the Serbian Culture Minister Dragan Kojadinovic, at the opening of the tenthPozarevac Biennale "In the light of Milena".

DISMISSAL OF RTK DIRECTOR

KRAGUJEVAC, November 7, 2005 (Danas) - At the last week's marathon session of the Kragujevac local assembly that started at early in the morning on November 4, the director of the Radio Television Kragujevac Slavica Trifunovic, director of the Sports Center "Mladost" Bratislav Djerovski and director of the Company for Town Construction Mirjana Vulic were relieved from their duties by the majority of delegates' votes.

Their dismissal was proposed by the Kragujevac Mayor Veroljub Stevanovic.

Boris Jovanovic, a former journalist of Kragujevac private televisionstation "Kanal 9" and TV "IN" was elected new director of the Radio Television Kragujevac at the same session, while Rasko Tanasijevic and Zoran Tenjevic were appointed directors of SC "Mladost" and Company for Town Construction.

The dismissals of heads of all Kragujevac-based institutions with whose work the mayor Stevanovic was not satisfied, were announced several weeks ago.

The decision to relieve the directors of several local companies has upset the political public in Sumadija, since all dismissed were the eminent activists of the Liberals of Kragujevac.

Liberals of Kragujevac were active participants of the local parliament's majority work until last Saturday.

ILIC: DJILAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLAPSE OF RTS

VALJEVO, November 8, 2005 (Danas) - Capital Investment Minister Velimir Ilic stated B92 was being financed by mafia and tycoons and made series of accusations against the Director of the People's Office of the Serbian President Dragan Djilas.

Speaking for the local "Vujic Television" from Valjevo, Ilic accused Djilas of running a campaign against him. He also said Djilas was "the boss of B92 and daily 'Kurir', which he would soon prove.

"That's true and the whole Serbia knows it is. I can prove that, but let's see if he (Djilas) can prove otherwise."

The Capital Investment Minister said that "Djilas was racketing certain public companies like Telecom". He also said Djilas was responsible for the collapse of Radio Television Serbia, which would now fall on the backs of the people of Serbia. Ilic challenged Djilas to a TV duel, adding he would "put him behind the bars sooner or later".

Ilic also accused Djilas of "trespassing of TV B92 on his private property (in village Atenica near Cacak).

"I will teach him (Djilas) a lesson sooner or later. I will never forgivehim that, he will have to explain what B92 was doing on my property where my father, grandfather, all my ancestors lived, and where my family lives now", said Ilic.

Minister Ilic criticized Serbian president Boris Tadic for being surrounded by "the distrustful characters like Djilas and (Srdjan) Saper who pat him on the back".

CEKIC: TRANSFORMATION OF RTS

NOVI SAD, November 8, 2005 (Beta) - Chairman of the Serbian Broadcast Agency Council Nenad Cekic said the broadcast field in Serbia is chaotic.

Cekic also said the transformation of Radio Television Serbia into a public broadcast service is the priority of the Council, anticipating the process to be concluded by April 2006.

He however discarded the objections to introduce TV subscription before the transformation of RTS into a public service saying the transformation had to be financed somehow.

Cekic said one of the main aims of the Council was the allocation ofnational commercial frequencies, saying there would be only 5 of them.

"There are currently 755 radio and television broadcasters in Serbia. That's too much for the field like Serbian."

MORE PROFESSIONAL MEDIA

BELGRADE, November 8, 2005 (FoNet) - Special reporter of the Media Center's Press Council Gordana Susa said the state of ethics in the Serbian media in October had been improved as compared to the previous months.

"The media was more careful to place sensitive information from the ethical point of view. This however does not mean there was no violation of ethical principles. Dailies Vecernje Novosti and Glas Javnosti still lead with 11 cases of violation of ethical norms. Following are the daily Kurir, with 10 articles, and Blic with 6, while Politika, Danas, Vreme, NIN and Evropa had only one such example", said Susa in her report.

"The most common cases of not respecting the ethical principles were sensationalism, publishing of groundless accusations, libel, rumors and defamation, fabricated letters, letters of anonymous authors and authors whose identity is unverifiable", said Susa.

She also said that the major problem lied in the fact that journalists often failed to comply with the fundamental rule of confirming the information by at least two sources prior to releasing it.&nbsp; ---------------------------------------------------------------------**The information contained in this autolist item is the sole responsibilityof ANEM**

BELGRADE, November 8, 2005 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) urges the appropriate authorities to undertake a thorough investigation of the destruction of a car belonging to Kursumlija journalist Ljiljana Danilovic. The Association also urges the authorities to inform the public of who is responsible for this crime and their motive, because it is suspected to have been an attempt to intimidate a journalist.

On Saturday evening, Danilovic, who is the Kursumlija correspondent for ANEM, RTV B92 and Beta news agency, left her car outside her office in the centre of the town. When she returned five minutes later, the vehicle was no longer in front of the building. She immediately notified police and found her car half an hour later in a blind alley about 150 metres away, virtually demolished.

There is reason to suspect that this incident is not a simple case of vandalism, but was intended to intimidate Ljiljana Danilovic, who had earlier been threatened because of her work as a journalist.

ANEM notes that the Public Information Act stipulates that no one has the right to limit access to public information or to exert any kind of physical or other pressure on public media and their employees.

The Association urges all journalism and media associations to show solidarity with anyone exposed to threats because of their work as a journalist.

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of ANEM. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit ANEM._________________________________________________________________DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

IFEX TMG Calls on Tunisian Government to Stop Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders and Journalists Prior to UN WSIS

SOURCE: IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG)

(IFEX-TMG) - The following is a joint declaration by members of the IFEX-TMG:

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On 7 November, members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG) will call on Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to intervene to end the persecution of journalists and Internet users in advance of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). In particular, the group is concerned over the official response to the continuing hunger strike by human rights defenders and journalists and says the date of 7 November, the anniversary of the day President Ben Ali took power, is traditionally marked with the release of prisoners. This is the moment, says the TMG, for an end to the hunger strike, for the release of the jailed journalist Hamadi Jabali and the human rights lawyer Mohammed Abbou, among other political prisoners, and for Tunisia to respond to international concerns over violations of basic freedoms in the country.

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Eight opposition figures began a hunger strike on 18 October to demand respect for freedom of expression and association in Tunisia and the release of all prisoners of conscience in advance of the second phase of the WSIS on 16-18 November 2005. The IFEX TMG members are protesting that the Tunisian government has cut off the telephone lines of those on hunger strike as well as the telephone lines of prominent human rights defenders. As a result, their emails have also been blocked.&nbsp; This action is inhumane and a provocation says the TMG, coming as it does before the WSIS. It sends a message that the authorities are not ready to respect the fundamental aim of the Summit which is to build an inclusive, pluralist and free communications environment for the information age.&nbsp;

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The TMG is also concerned for the well-being of Hamadi Jebali, editor of the weekly “Al Fajr”, who has been jailed since 1991. Jebali agreed to end his own hunger strike on October 21, after five weeks, following a promise by the Tunisian authorities that they would review his case by 7 November. However, 31 other political prisoners are reported to have been released on 3 November to mark Eid Al-Fitr. Jebali was told by the director of the Mahdia Prison that he would be allowed to leave prison six months before the end of his 16-year prison sentence, which means that he will be released only at the end of 2006.

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The TMG is calling on the Tunisian government to release him and all others held for "crimes" of free expression before the WSIS. The clear impression is that he is being victimised over his publicised hunger strikes and for the support he has received from international groups calling for his release.

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The people who began the hunger strike on 18 October are: Ahmed Najib Chabbi, the secretary general of the Progressive Democratic Party; Hamma Hammami, the spokesperson of the Tunisian Communist Workers' Party; Abbdel Raouf Ayadi, the vice president of the Tunisian Congress for the Republic (Congr&#232;s pour la République, CPR); Ayachi Hammami, the president of the Mohammed Abbou defense committee and secretary general of the Tunis section of the Tunisian Human Rights League; Mohamed Nouri, the chairperson of the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners; Mokhtar Yahyaoui, a judge and president of the Centre for the Independence of the Judiciary and Bar; Samir Dilou, a lawyer and human rights activist; and Lotfi Hajji, the head of the Tunisian Journalists Union (SJT). According to reports, the hunger strikers are feeling weak, have low blood pressure and have trouble sleeping. Some of them are beginning to show symptoms of dehydration. Abbdel Raouf Ayadi this week decided to end his hunger strike on his doctor’s advice

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The hungers strikers are calling on the Tunisian authorities to restore the fundamental rights of all Tunisian citizens and to release all prisoners of opinion, in particular Hamadi Jebali, Mohammed Abbou, the jailed websurfers of Zarzis and Ariana and the recently jailed Internet user Mohammed Amine Bettibi.

Sheffield S1 2BX, United Kingdom, tel: +44 7801 945037, e-mail: sbuckley@gn.apc.org, or visit the website of the IFEX TMG at: http://campaigns.ifex.org/tmg/The information contained in this joint action is the sole responsibility of the IFEX-TMG.

The International Federation of Journalists today warned that anti-terror legislation being prepared independently by Britain and Australia could endanger democracy and press freedom and are “chilling for the exercise of journalism.”

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In both countries parliaments are discussing new anti-terror laws that will criminalise some forms of free speech. In Britain, the Government of Tony Blair is seeking to outlaw information that could be said to “glorify” terrorism, calling into question media reporting on the activities of political or armed groups. In Australia journalists warn that a too broad definition of sedition in a new anti-terrorism law will erode free speech and artistic expression.

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"Both governments are creating laws that will radically alter the nature of public debate in these societies,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “Their plans are dangerous for democracy and for press freedom and if passed into law they will be chilling for the exercise of journalism.”

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The IFJ says that both governments are exploiting public fears over acts of terrorism to justify new rules that will diminish existing forms of accountability.

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“The proposed British law is confused and unworkable and makes a nonsense of the country’s great tradition of free speech,” said White. “Had such a law been in place in the past 30 years there would have been no free journalism in Northern Ireland and that would have been disastrous for the recent peace process.”

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In Australia, the IFJ’s affiliate the Media Entertainment &amp; Arts Alliance, says a new anti terrorism bill means anyone could be charged with sedition without, as existing law requires, being guilty of incitement to violence. “Essentially a journalist who reports a story or publishes comment against the actions of the government, police or judiciary, could be charged under these sedition laws," said Christopher Warren, MEAA Federal Secretary.

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Under the Bill, Australian police can request any person to be put on a preventative detention or control order and there are restrictions on reporting details of someone in preventative detention. A journalist who reveals that a person has been detained or any other information relating to the order faces five years imprisonment.

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The bill also increases the police's power to obtain documents, which may relate to a serious terrorism offence. Notice to produce provisions will force journalists to hand over information, including the identity of confidential sources. They face fines if they refuse to comply – and if they report that they have received a demand for information.&nbsp;

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“In Australia the government is rushing the new laws through with only a two week Senate inquiry,” said Aidan White. “This makes a mockery of proper parliamentary scrutiny of grave and serious legislation.”

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Earlier this year the IFJ issued a detailed report on the threat to Civil Liberties and Journalism posed by anti-terror laws and last month the IFJ signed up to the European Civil Liberties Network, an international coalition of groups fighting to preserve civil rights in the face of new laws.

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“There is a rush to legislate that puts democracy in peril and benefits no-one, except perhaps terrorists themselves who see every new limitation on people’s rights as a victory in their campaign to destabilise democratic and tolerant societies,” said White.

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For more information contact Christopher Warren on 0411 757 668

The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries

ARTICLE 19 has urged governments in Albania, Romania and Serbia and Montenegro to amend their countries' criminal codes, saying criminal defamation laws are not a justifiable way of restricting freedom of expression according to international human rights standards.

In a new report, the IFEX member expresses concern that criminal defamation laws in these countries continue to be used against journalists by politicians eager to shield themselves from public scrutiny. "The threat of criminal sanctions for defamation, especially imprisonment, exerts a profound chilling effect on freedom of expression," says ARTICLE 19.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that these sanctions carry unduly harsh penalties that violate the right to free expression "even if the circumstances justify some sanction" for harming an individual's reputation. Free expression experts from the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have also stated that criminal defamation laws contravene international standards.

ARTICLE 19 says Romania and Serbia and Montenegro have recently made positive moves by abolishing prison sentences in defamation cases, but prohibitively high fines continue to cast a chill on journalists. Albania and Kosovo are progressing faster. Governments there are drafting amendments to replace criminal provisions with civil provisions.&nbsp;

Decriminalising defamation would allow the media to better perform its important role of providing information in the public interest in a timely fashion and disseminating opinions and ideas, argues ARTICLE 19. However, efforts also need to be made to improve professional journalism standards, raise employment conditions for journalists and implement effective self-regulatory mechanisms in the media.

ARTICLE 19 says an international trend towards abolishing criminal defamation is currently emerging, led by countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Georgia, Ghana, Togo, Central African Republic, Argentina and Peru.

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community_________________________________________________________________

ALERT - SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

27 October 2005

Offices of Vranje-based weekly ransacked

SOURCE: Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

(ANEM/IFEX) - The following is an ANEM statement followed by a 25 October 2005 letter by "Vranjske" director and editor-in-chief Vukasin Obradovic:

ANEM wishes to draw your attention to recent events in the Vranjemunicipality, namely the break-in at the offices of local weekly "Vranjske", when nothing was stolen but the offices were thoroughly ransacked. Papers were removed from the drawers and all business and professional documentation had been examined. This is the third break-in in the last six years .

ANEM strongly protests against the continuous attacks on the independent media in Vranje. Only a month ago, "Vranjske" newspaper and OK Radio, the only independent media in the region, were attacked by the local self-government, and their owners and editors were openly threatened too.

Management of the weekly believes that this might have been an attempt to send a message to the editors and represents the most severe form of pressure on their journalists.

Vranje, October 25, 2005

STATEMENT

The offices of the local weekly "Vranjske" were broken into on October 22, 2005. The police investigation determined that none of the equipment wasmissing, but that everything in the office was ransacked. Papers were removed from the drawers and all business and professional documentation had been examined. The police did not find any marks or prints left by the burglars.

This is the third break-in in the last six years. However, unlike the first two times, when the offices were ravaged and equipment stolen, this time, the perpetrators evidently had different intentions, which we can only guess.

Still, it is indicative that the nocturnal visitors of the weekly had pretty clear aspirations. Regardless of whether the burglars were looking for some "secret" documents or just wanted to send a message to the editors, this obviously represents the most severe form of pressure on our journalists.

Our doubt is supported by the fact that the break-in was doneprofessionally, since the offices of the weekly Vranjske are located in the very heart of the city, only one hundred meters away from the local police station, and it requires a lot of time to thoroughly search the offices.

Let me remind you that for the last few months, the weekly "Vranjske" was dealing with issues such as the "Pahomija affair", the burning of bodies in Mackatica, the killing of civilians in Kosovo and Serbian-Albanian smuggling. We can only speculate as to whether some of these articles have drawn someone's attention or provoked this break-in. Whatever the case may be, the fact is that after this incident, the weekly "Vranjske" operates in poor conditions and journalists fear for their safety.

Because of all this, the weekly "Vranjske" urges the appropriate state authorities to take all necessary measures to clear up all doubts and prevent motives for possible misinterpretations of this incident, which connect certain state or military services with this burglary.

NEW YORK, October 19, 2005 (Beta) - This year's International Press Freedom Awards will be presented to three journalists and one lawyer.

On 22 November 2005, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will present its 2005 International Press Freedom Awards to former Uzbekistan-based correspondent for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting Galima Bukharbaeva, publisher and editor of "Jornal Pessoal" Lúcio Flávio Pinto, Chinese journalist Shi Tao and Zimbabwean lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

CPJ will also honor the late ABC News anchor Peter Jennings with the Burton Benjamin Memorial Award for a lifetime of distinguished achievement.

"All of the awardees have risked their lives and their freedom to report the truth about politicians, policies, businesses and crime. For their work, these journalists have been attacked in various ways to powerful people determined to hide their actions", said in the statement of the CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper.

Flávio Pinto has been physically assaulted and threatened with death for reporting on drug trafficking, environmental destruction and corruption in Brazil's remote Amazon region.

Bukharbaeva risked her life covering the massacre of innocent protestors in the city of Andijan last May. She now lives in exile in the United States but faces criminal charges in her home country.

Shi Tao is serving a 10-year prison sentence for "leaking state secrets abroad." He has been a freelance journalist for Internet publications and an editor for "Dangdai Shang Bao", a Chinese business newspaper. His essays on political reform, published on news Web sites outside of China, drew the ire of authorities.

Mtetwa, a media lawyer, continues to defend journalists in her home country, despite being arrested and beaten because of her work. She has won acquittals for several journalists facing criminal charges, including two London journalists arrested during April's tightly controlled presidential elections.

WORLDWIDE PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2005

NEW YORK, October 21, 2005 (FoNet) - According to the Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2005, three former Yugoslav countries are among top 60: Slovenia occupies 9th, Bosnia and Herzegovina is on 33rd, Macedonia 43rd and Croatia on 56th place.Serbia and Montenegro is ranked 65th on the Index of freedom of press.

North Korea once again comes bottom of the Reporters Without Borders fourth annual World Press Freedom Index. It is closely followed in the 167-country list by Eritrea (166th) and Turkmenistan (165th), which are other "black holes" for freedom of expression.

Some western democracies slipped down the Index. The United States fell more than 20 places and now occupy 44th position. Canada (21st) and France (30th) also dropped several places.

At the top of the Index once again are northern European countries Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway and the Netherlands, all sharing the first place, where robust press freedom is firmly established.

ONE BILL FOR SUBSCRIPTION AND ELECTRICITY AFTER ALL

BELGRADE, October 21, 2005 (Beta) - Managing Board of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS) accepted the Government's recommendation to charge the TV subscription together with the electricity.

The subscription fee will be a separate heading specified on the electricity bill. Collection of the RTS subscription fee is expected to start after the signing of the contract between EPS and RTS, which would fine-tune the technicalities.

However, the list of subscribers has not yet been made so it still remains unknown whether the subscription fee of 300 dinars will be included in the November electricity bill.

MARKO KNEW ABOUT BOMBING OF RTS?

BELGRADE, October 21, 2005 (FoNet, Beta) - Zanka Stojanovic, whose son was killed in the bombing of RTS, claims that Marko Milosevic knew the station would be a target.

Zanka Stojanovic said that in December 2001, Aleksandar Petkanic, who claims to be the former bodyguard of Marko Milosevic, proposed to lawyer Borivoje Borovic to appear as the witness of prosecution in the case against the former RTS director Dragoljub Milanovic.

Stojanovic also claims that, Borovic approached her in the hall of the Belgrade Palace of Justice in December 2001 and told her that he had a letter which might be used as key evidence in the case against Milanovic.

"The letter allegedly cited that on April 21, 1999, one day before the RTS bombing, Petkanic was sitting with Marko Milosevic, the then Chief of Directorate for moral and information of the Supreme Command Headquarters Brigadier General Aleksandar Bakocevic and two other generals, in the café Rolex in Pozarevac. Milosevic told them then that RTS and one military object in Pozarevac were going to be hit tomorrow, adding that the number of victims would be minor comparing to the benefits gained in anti-NATO campaign", said Zanka Stojanovic.

Zanka Stojanovic said that she had tried on several occasions to get the copy of the letter from Borovic, but he told her every time that the letter was misplaced, suggesting her to appeal to the Justice Minister Vladan Batic regarding the Petkanic's claims. She did just that, but there were no results.

Stojanovic was persistent in obtaining the copy of the letter from Borovic, but was told that "the guy was threatened to keep quiet", and that the letter was lost.

Lawyer Borivoje Borovic could not remember Petkanic, but allowed the possibility that some of the prisoners had sent the letter, asking to take on his case.

Former Justice Minister Vladan Batic said he was not aware of the letter.

"I would turn heaven and earth to get hold of that letter. Everyone knows my opinion of Dragoljub Milanovic", Batic said.

The role of Slobodan Milosevic, father of Marko Milosevic and president of Yugoslavia at the time of NATO air campaign in Serbia, in the deaths of 16 RTS workers was never investigated on the court. The then RTS director Dragoljub Milanovic was convicted for disobeying the order of evacuation, but was never found guilty for premeditated mass murder.

DANAS SUES PETROVIC AND NIN

BELGRADE, October 21, 2005 (Beta) - Belgrade daily Danas has announced pressing charges against the weekly NIN and former Head of State Security service Goran Petrovic.

The daily will sue Petrovic for serious accusations issued on the account of Danas journalist Vuk Z. Cvijic in the interview given to the weekly NIN.

According to Danas, Petrovic has discredited and libelled both Cvijic and the daily by claiming Cvijic was a "drug addict" who a "military service collaborator". The daily Danas also reminded the public on the chronology of events from the moment it was discovered that Cvijic was wiretapped. Danas stated that it did not sue the responsible ones at the time, however, after Petrovic's attack of Cvijic and Danas in the interview of NIN, the daily was forced to take legal charges against both Petrovic and NIN.

"It is vital to remind the former chief, the editorial of the oldest Serbian weekly and the public, that these outrageous and ungrounded accusations on Cvijic's account are not only libel, but also violation of his privacy. It's needless to say that the drug addiction is a disease, and every disease, even if it is accurately diagnosed, is not illegal and a police matter", the daily stated, demanding from Petrovic to name his source of information on the alleged medical condition of Cvijic.

Independent Association of Serbian Journalists (NUNS) protested over the insults and unsubstantiated insinuations by Petrovic.

"These very grave qualifications are unfit for the serious people. But, when they come from the former head of one of the secret services, we are reasonably troubled with the question whether we are going back to the times of publicising unconfirmed claims from the secret files", said in the statement of NUNS.

"Obviously out of the need for sensationalism, Petrovic neglected the fact that there were papers and journalist who were doing their job honestly. NUNS is very concerned by the fact that one such a respectable weekly like NIN allowed that its pages be used as a field for making unverified and undue accusations against the fellow journalists. It only aggravates the situation of our media, most certainly infected by numerous violations of ethical and professional codes", said NUNS.

IFJ Warns that BBC Arab Television Plan May Damage Global Reputation for Independence

The International Federation of Journalists today warned that the BBC World Service decision to launch an Arabic television channel could undermine the global reputation of the world’s leading public broadcaster.

The IFJ says the BBC appears to be following the lead of the United States government which last year committed more than 60,000,000$ to launch Al Hurra, an American-based Arabic satellite television network. Although the station claims to be editorially independent, the explicit intention was to counter the success of satellite channels like Al-Jazeera and Al- Arabiya and their distinctly Arab perspective in coverage of the Iraq conflict and the Middle East.

“We fully support the efforts of BBC journalists to expand the influence of the World Service, which is a trademark of journalistic excellence, but the Arab television channel opens the door to criticism that the brand is being used to strengthen political objectives,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.&nbsp;

The new television venture - the BBC Arabic Television Service - is to broadcast 12 hours a day across the Middle East, beginning in 2007, and will be free to anyone with a satellite or cable connection. The BBC's Arabic Service in radio already has reporters in every Arabic-speaking country and draws some 12 million listeners each week.

The service will cost &#163;19 million a year and will be paid for by the closure of 10 BBC language services, mostly in Europe. Some 218 jobs will go, but there will be 201 new jobs created at the Arabic channel and through other projects.

The IFJ welcomes the new jobs that will be created, but says that the BBC World Service, which has an unparalleled reputation for independence, risks losing the confidence of existing viewers and listeners.

“The implications of this project will not be lost on the region, where many will think that this is a political manoeuvre,” said White. “The US channel Al Hurra, for example, is undoubtedly professional, but many people switch off because of the perception that it is a mouthpiece for government. The BBC may suffer in the same way.”

The World Service has an enormous global presence, broadcasting in 43 languages and drawing more than 149 million weekly listeners, and with a reputation for independence that is second to none, says the IFJ, which backs its UK affiliate the National Union of Journalists in strongly opposing any undue political influence in BBC affairs.

“The IFJ will strongly support BBC journalists and their union. We are confident they will vigorously resist any attempts at editorial interference,” said White. “This is the first line of defence for the World Service and its reputation.”

For further information contact: +32 2 235 22 07The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries